Cabinet structure



Get. 5, 954 HERRQN 2,690,944

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed March 26, 1952 Milli i illlll" ill nvmvroze: ARCHIE L. HERRON I HIS ATTOFN Patented Oct. 5, 1954 CABINET STRUCTURE Archie L. Herron, Chicago, Ill.,'assignor to Zenith Radio Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application March 26, 1952, Serial No. 278,697

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cabinet structures and more particularly to a wooden cabinet constructed of plywood and arranged to house a television receiver or the like.

It is preferable that television cabinets be composed of wood rather than other substances, such as plastic, since the use of decorative woods that may be highly polished renders such cabinets particularly suitable as articles of furniture. Prior to the present invention, however, cabinets of this type have proven to be unduly expensive since their composition has been such as to render their manufacture relatively complicated both from the standpoint of the number of assembly operations involved and the care and degree of skill required in each operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cabinet structure having all the aesthetic appeal of the prior art cabinets, but having a unique composition such that the cabinet may be manufactured cheaply and economically.

The cabinet structure of the present invention is intended to house a television receiver, or the like, and comprises a unitary press-molded shell constitutin the top and side panels as Well as spaced inwardly extending end portions of the bottom panel of the structure and also constituting a pair of inner peripheral reinforcing ribs. The aforesaid shell comprises a first series of Wood laminations arranged in nested concentric relation, and further comprises two additional series of wood laminations, likewise arranged in nested concentric relation within the first series and positioned at the opposing marginal portions of the first series to form a reinforcing rib. The laminations of the second series have a length substantially equal to, but a width that is a minor portion of, the corresponding dimensions of the laminations of the first series and are secured to the inner surfaces of the first series of laminations. The shell further comprises a base member overlying and affixed to the inner surface of the spaced inwardly extending end portions to complete the bottom panel of the cabinet structure. The base member is also cut away at each of the four corners to receive the reinforcing ribs and overlap the spaced inwardly extending end portions.

The features of this invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in 2 conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the cabinet of the invention,

Figure 2 represents the components of the cabinet before they are pressed into shape, and,

Figure 3 is a view of the assembly of Figure 2 taken along the lines 3-3.

As shown in Figure 1, the cabinet of this invention may have an open front and back and is suitable for housing the chassis of a television receiver. When the chassis is in place, the picture tube and escutcheon completely fill the open front, whereas the back may be left open or it may be closed by a removable cover to permit ready access to the chassis. The cabinet structure comprises a unitary press-molded shell constituting the side panels It, H and the top l2 of the cabinet structure, and also comprising a pair of inner peripheral reinforcing ribs l6 and I1. The shell comprises a first series of Wood laminations arranged in nested concentric relation to form sides It, ll and top l2, and two additional series of wood laminations likewise arranged in nested concentric relation within the first series to form the reinforcin ribs :6 and I1. As illustrated in the drawing, the additional series are arranged respectively at the opposing marginal portions of the first series and have a width that is a minor fraction of the width of the first series.

The shell also comprises opposing spaced inwardly extending end portions I3 and 14 of a bottom panel, and a base member 15 is interposed between and affixed to end portions [3 and M to complete the bottom panel, the base being cut away at each of its four corners to receive the reinforcing ribs it and I! and overlap end portions it and It. Ease member l5 may be secured to the end portions either by glue or by any other appropriate means.

The aforementioned series of laminations, before they are pressed into shape, are shown in pro-assembled relation in Figures 2 and 3, the first series having the two additional series 16 and i i placed along the marginal edges thereof. The various veneers or plies constituting each series are covered with glue in well-known fashion, and the assembly is placed in a hot-press or is moldheated by steam or other heating medium. The assembly is then shaped along the axes XX and Y-Y so that the central portion between these axes forms the top panel I2 of the cabinet structure while the remainin portions form the side panels Ill and H. The extreme end portions of the assembly are bent about the axes AA and B--B to form the end portions I3 and H! for the bottom panel. The hot press holds the assembly in this configuration until the wood and glue have had time to set. While any type of glue may be used, it is preferred that a water-proof glue of the resinous type be employed.

Due to the unique and improved composition of the cabinet of Figure 1, it can be fabricated in the simple manner outlined above and no additional operations, apart from the afiixing of base member 15, are necessary.

The invention provides, therefore, a highly useful and commercially acceptable cabinet structure which is rugged in construction, and which may be fabricated with the utmost simplicity.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made and it is intended in the appended claim to cover all such modifications as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A cabinet structure for a television receiver or the like comprising: a unitary press-molded shell constituting the top and side panels as well as spaced inwardly extending end portions of the bottom panel of the structure, and also constituting a pair of inner peripheral reinforcing ribs, said shell comprising a first series of wood laminations arranged in nested concentric relation and two additional series of wood laminations arranged in nested concentric relation within said first series and positioned at the opposing marginal portions of said first series, the laminations of said additional series having a length substantially equal to but a width that is a minor fraction of the corresponding dimensions of said first series and being secured to the inner surface of said first series of laminations; and a base member overlying and affixed to the inner surfaces of the aforesaid spaced inwardly extending end portions to complete the bottom panel of said structure and cut away at each of its four corners to receive said reinforcing ribs and overlap said spaced inwardly extending end portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,288,598 Inwood Dec. 24, 1918 1 1,710,035 Thompson Apr. 23, 1929 2,100,226 Stenberg Nov. 23, 1937 2,176,212 Dijksterhuis Oct. 17, 1939 3 2,194,722 Roberts Mar. 26, 1940 2,383,745 Schumacher Aug. 28, 1945 

